West Coast Eagles Training Notes: Harley Reid looks fit and strong in first session for 2026 after break

West Coast returned to training for the first time in 2026 on Monday morning. Here’s what we saw from the 20 minutes of access given by the club. Ripped Reid Ready There was no questioning Harley Reid’s fitness on day one of pre-season for 2026 with the young midfielder looking fit and strong ahead of his third season. Reid’s first full pre-season as an AFL player was questioned by many experts and pundits, with queries over whether he had done the appropriate work to return in the best shape possible ahead of last season. The No.1 draftee conceded he “got a few things wrong in my first off-season” but looks to have taken the lessons learnt to ensure he was ready to hit the ground running. Reid — who signed a two-year contract extension last August to remain at the Eagles until the end of 2028 — will be hoping to build on his late season form when he averaged 26 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances and a goal in the three games before his season was over in round 20 dueto an ankle injury. Should he do that, the 20-year-old will undoubtedly be pivotal for coach Andrew McQualter who is building a team that is coming off a one-win season. Draftee Delight West Coast fans may have to wait a while to see draftee Sam Allen in action, but his return from an ACL injury is inching closer and closer. Allen — who sustained the injury in early 2025 — began the New Year with his most promising start to a training session yet, doing the first half an hour with the main group. This included a bit of running and some ball skills before he was forced to go over and work with the rehab group. It is a significant step forward for the teenager, who likely would have gone a lot higher in last year’s draft than pick No.29 if it wasn’t for his untimely injury. Meanwhile, No.1 draftee Willem Duursma continues to be managed through his pre-season but is still an exciting prospect with his athleticism continually on show. Duursma was captured speaking to coach Andrew McQualter early in the session who is surely excited to unleash the Victorian utility in an Eagles jumper early in the season. Long Road Back? It wasn’t all great news for the Eagles on Monday, with small forward Noah Long starting the year in the rehab group alongside ruckman Bailey Williams. It is not yet clear what injury Long is battling, but he didn’t look anywhere near ready to join his teammates, who are driving towards their season opener against Gold Coast on March 15. Williams is continuing his recovery from a groin injury which has hampered him all pre-season, but the club were confident he’d be back to full training in late January. Premiership defender Tom Cole was also restricted to running, while Elliot Yeo, Jobe Shanahan and Harry Barnett all completed the early part of the session before joining Long and Williams in the rehab group.